Safety binding for skis

ABSTRACT

A ski binding comprises a base and a jaw pivotally mounted on the base for engaging a ski boot. A releasable locking mechanism locks the jaw from pivoting to secure the ski boot to a ski and releases the jaw to pivot to release the ski boot if a lateral force having a magnitude greater than a selected predetermined magnitude of a break away force is applied thereto. The releasable locking mechanism is adjustable by a user of the ski binding to set the break away force and the ski binding is provided with an indicator mechanism to indicate the break away force for which the binding is set. The indicator mechanism includes a marker moveable relative to indicia indicating the break away force and the marker and indicia are disposed for viewing thereof by the user of the binding at a surface of the jaw or the base opposite the ski.

United States Patent 1191 Frechin Oct. 28, 1975 SAFETY BINDING FOR SKISPrimary ExaminerRobert R. Song [75] Inventor: Jean-Paul Frechin,Chamonix, Attorney Agent or F'rm Rben Bums;

France Emmanuel J. Lobato; Bruce L. Adams [73] Assignee: Mitchell S.A.,France 57 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Jan. 28, 1974 A ski binding comprises abase and a jaw pivotally mounted on the base for engaging a ski boot. Areleas- [211 Appl' 4 able locking mechanism locks the jaw from pivotingto secure the ski boot to a ski and releases the jaw to [30] ForeignApplication Priority Data pivot to release the ski boot if a lateralforce having a Feb. 1, 1973 France 73.03589 magnitude greater than aSelected predetermined nitude of a break away force is applied thereto.The 52 US. Cl 280/1135 T releasable locking mechanism is adjustable by a51 Int. ci A63C 9/08 of the Ski binding to Set the break away force andthe 58 Field of Search 280/1135 T Ski binding is Provided with anindicator mechanism to indicate the break away force for which thebinding is 5 References Cited set. The indicator mechanism includes amarker UNITED STATES PATENTS moveable relative to indicia indicating thebreak away force and the marker and indicia are disposed for 32 r: iviewing thereof by the user of the binding at a surface 3:8l3:ll0 5/1974Sitt ma n :::...............::I: 280/11I35 T ofthe jaw or the base the 1Claim, 6 Drawing Figures 6 I 1 0 1 i nrl L I 28 l 5 Z5 US. Patent Oct.28, 1975 Sheet 1 of 3 3,915,467

FIG. 2

US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,915,467

SAFETY BINDING FOR SKIS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates generally to ski bindings for securing a ski boot to a ski andmore particularly to a new and improved adjustable ski binding.

A ski boot is secured to a ski by a safety binding that will release theski boot from the ski if an excessive lateral force is applied betweenthe boot and the ski. The magnitude of the force that is deemedexcessive is dependent upon the weight of the skier and the conditionsunder which he is skiing. In order to prevent injury to a skier using aparticular binding, ski bindings are generally adjustable to allow theskier to set the magnitude of the lateral force or break away at whichthe binding will release the ski boot.

These ski bindings generally comprise a base which is attached to a skiand a jaw pivotally mounted on the base for engaging the ski boot. Thejaws are normally locked in a central position to attach the ski boot tothe ski until a lateral force having a magnitude greater than the breakaway force of the binding is applied between the boot and the ski. Thejaw then pivots to release the boot and allow it to separate from theski.

In order to allow a binding to be used by skiers of varying weights andunder different conditions, the binding may be adjusted to set the breakaway force thereof. An indicator integral with the binding is providedto indicate to the skier the break away force to which the binding isset.

In known ski bindings of this type, for example the ski bindingsdescribed in French patents Nos. 1,447,799 and 2,051,049, an end of thejaw opposite the boot it engages pivots on a vertical shaft and isdisposed overlying a base of the binding. The base has a releasablelocking mechanism for holding and releasing the jaw according to themagnitude of a lateral force applied thereto. Because the jaw isdisposed overlying the base of the binding, an indicator for indicatingthe magnitude of lateral force at which the ski boot will be released isdisposed on a lateral face of the binding. Therefore, it is difficultfor a skier to readthe indicator when he is wearing skis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the presentinvention to provide a new and improved safety binding for skis that canbe conveniently and accurately adjusted.

Another object is to provide a new safety binding for skis which may beaccurately adjusted by a skier while skis are being worn and is readilyreadable as to indications thereon.

In accordance with the invention, an adjustable ski binding is providedwith an indicator for indicating a magnitude of an applied lateral forceat which the binding will release a ski boot. The ski binding of thepresent invention comprises a base having a jaw pivotally mountedthereon for engaging a ski boot. Releasable locking means maintains thejaw in a locked position to secure the ski boot to a ski, and releasesthe jaw to pivot to release the ski boot if a lateral force or a breakaway force, having a magnitude greater than a selected predeterminedmagnitude, is applied between the ski boot and the ski. The releasablelocking means com prises adjusting means for manually setting thepredetermined lateral force at which the jaws of the binding will pivotto release the ski boot.

Indicator means cooperate with the adjusting means and comprise a markermoveable relative to indicia indicating the magnitude of applied lateralforce at which the binding will release the ski boot. In one embodimentof the invention, a portion of the jaw overlies the base of the bindingand is provided with an opening therethrough. The marker of theindicator means is disposed between the jaw and the base of the bindingand opposite the opening through the jaw, and is displaced in responseto setting changes of the adjusting means.

The marker has a straight edge which meets an edge of the opening in thejaw. A point at which the straight edge of the marker meets the edge ofthe opening changes as the marker is displaced in response to settingchanges of the adjusting means. Indicia along the edge of the openingallow a user to determine a position of the marker and to determinedisplacements of the marker as the break away force is adjusted.

In another embodiment of the invention, the indicator has an arcuateedge which is viewed through the opening in the jaw and indicates thesetting of the adjusting means.

In still another embodiment of the invention, a portion of the jawoverlies a lower portion of the base and an upper portion of the baseoverlies the portion of jaw. The portion of the base overlying the jawis provided with an opening therein and the marker is disposed oppositethe opening between the upper portion of the base and the jaw. As in thepreviously described embodiments, the marker is displaced in response tosetting of the adjusting means to indicate the break away force to whichthe binding is set. The position of the marker is read against indiciaprovided on the upper portion of the base adjacent the opening toindicate setting of the adjusting means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of thesafety bindings in accordance with the presentinvention will be betterunderstood as described in the following specification and appendedclaims, in conjunction with the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a first embodiment of the inventionpartially in section;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention illustrated inFIG. 1 with the jaw in the locked position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the embodiment of the invention illustrated inFIG. 1 partially in section with the jaw illustrated pivoted away fromthe locked position;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a second embodiment of the inventionpartially in section;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of a third embodiment of the inventionpartially in section;

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a fourth embodiment of the inventionpartially in section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiment of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 1-3 is a ski binding comprising a base 1, shownfastened to a ski 2 by screws 3. A jaw 4 for releasably engaging andholding a ski boot is pivotally mounted on a cylindrical boss 5 rigidlyconnected, for example integral with. the base 1 and disposed at an endof the base remote from the ski boot. Jaw 4 is secured to the base I 1by a screw 6 and by a tongue 7 integral with the jaw 4, which engages acorresponding groove 8 in the base 1 opposite the tongue 7. The groove 8is defined by the base 1 and a rim 25 of a plate 26, disposed in acorresponding recess in the base 1, and held in place by pins 27.

The base 1 is provided with a bore 9 extending longitudinallytherethrough. A releasable locking mechanism is disposed within the boreor conduit 9 and may be of any suitable or convenient structure as it isnot the object of the present invention. ln this embodiment of thepresent invention, the releasable locking mechanism comprises a cam 28having a V-shaped end 29 which engages a corresponding V-shaped recess30 in a surface of the jaw 4 when the jaw is in a central lockedposition wherein a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the jaw 4 iscolinear with a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the base. A face of thecam 28 opposite the V-shaped end 29 is in contact with a compressionspring 10, held in compression by an adjusting screw 13. The compressionspring 10 applies a force against the cam 28 which maintains theV-shaped end 29 of the cam 28 engaged with the corresponding recess injaw 4. The force which the spring 10 applies to the cam 28 may be variedby screwing or unscrewing the adjusting screw 13 to vary the compressionof the compression spring 10.

The face of the jaw 4 opposite the base 1 is provided with a recess 21.A stop 12 rigidly connected with the base 1, for instance integraltherewith, extends into the recess 21 and limits lateral displacement ofthe jaw 4 if a lateral force of sufficient magnitude to disengage thecam 28 from the jaw 4 is applied between the jaw 4 and the cam 28. Inoperation, this force is applied to the jaw 4 by the ski boot.

A longitudinal channel 14 disposed in a surface of the base 1 oppositethe jaw 4 is in communication with the bore 9 through opening 11. Asliding element 15 comprising a lower finger 16 and an upper finger 17is disposed in the longitudinal channel 14. A compression spring 18 isalso disposed in the channel 14 and applies a force to the slidingelement 15 to maintain the lower finger 16 against an end of theadjusting screw 13 adjacent the compression spring 10. Without goingbeyond the present invention, the contiguous arrangement of theadjusting screw 13 and the lower finger 16 could be maintained by someother means, for instance by providing a circumferential groove in thethreaded surface of the screw 13, into which the finger 16 would extend.The compression spring 18 would then be unnecessary.

The upper finger 17 of the sliding element 15 projects into the recess21. A marker or indicator 22 having a groove 23 with a cross sectioncorresponding to that of the upper finger 17, is disposed in the recess21 with the upper finger 17 extending into the groove 23. Groove 23 isarcuate (see FIG. 3) and substantially concentric with a longitudinalaxis of symmetry of the boss which is an axis of rotation of the jaw 4.When the jaw 4 pivots from its central locked position, the indicator 22pivots with it. Because the groove 23 is substantially concentric withthe axis of rotation of the jaw 4, the indicator 22 is not displacedlongitudinally within the recess 21 as the jaw 4 rotates.

An opening or window 20 is provided between the recess 21 and a surfaceof the jaw opposite the base 1. On the surface of the jaw 4 opposite thebase 1, indicia are disposed along one edge of the window 20. An edge ofthe marker 22 meets the edge of the window along which the indicia aredisposed, and the point at which the two edges meet can be read as aposition of the indi- 5 cator 22 within the recess 21.

To understand the operation of the binding, consider it first with thejaw 4 in the central locked position as illustrated in FIG. 2. The jaw 4is maintained in the central locked position by a cam 28 which is forcedby the compression spring to bear against an opposing surface of jaw 4so that the V-shaped end 29 of the cam 28 engages the correspondingV-shaped recess 30 in the jaw 4 and maintains it in the central lockedposition. The force with which the cam 28 bears against the jaw 4determines the magnitude of the break away force at which the cam 28disengages from the jaw 4 and the jaw 4 pivots away from the centrallocked position. The force with which the cam 28 bears against the jaw 4is developed by compressing the compression spring 10 between the cam 28and the adjusting screw 13. By turning the adjusting screw 13 todisplace it inwardly or outwardly the degree of compression of spring 10is varied and hence the break away force of the jaw 4 is varied andvariably set.

Compression spring 18 maintains the lower finger 16 of the slidingelement against an end of the adjusting screw 13 as it is longitudinallydisplaced during setting of the break away force. The sliding element 15is displaced an equal distance and in the same direction along thelongitudinal channel 14. As the sliding element 15 is displaced, theindicator 22 which engages the upper finger 17 of the sliding element15, is also displaced. This displacement of the marker 22 may beobserved through the opening or window and indicates how much the breakaway force has been changed. The displacement can be accuratelydetermined by observing the change of the point where the edge of theindicator 22 crosses the edge of the window 20 having indicia disposedalong its edge.

Because the groove 23 of the indicator 22 in which the upper finger 17engages is arcuate and substantially concentric with the axis ofrotation of the jaw 4, the position of the indicator 22 within therecess 21 will be substantially unchanged as the jaw 4 pivots away fromthe central locked position. Thus, the indicator indicates the breakaway force at which the binding is set both when the ski boot is inplace and locked by the binding, or when the ski boot has been releasedby the binding and the jaw 4 is in an unlocked position. This lattercondition is illustrated in FIG. 3.

A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 4.In order to simplify description of the second embodiment, correspondingparts of the first and second embodiments of the present invention areidentified by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, thesliding element 15 is replaced by a marker 31, which slides in thelongitudinal channel 14, and a recess 32, which corresponds to therecess 21 of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-3,is sufficiently wide to allow the jaw 4 to pivot without engaging themarker 31. An edge 35 of the marker 31 has the shape of a circularsection (not show) centered on the axis of rotation of the jaw 4 andhaving a radius substantially equal to a distance between the axis ofrotation of the jaw 4 and the center of the edge 35. The edge 35 isdisposed opposite the window 20 which, in this embodiment, is providedwith indicia 34 along a lateral edge thereof on a surface of the jaw 4opposite the surface adjacent the base 1. All of the other elements ofthis embodiment are identical to those of the first embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 1-3.

The operation of the second embodiment of the invention is similar tothe operation of the first embodiment of the invention describedhereinabove. The degree of compression of the compression spring is setby rotating adjustment screw 13. The marker- 31 is urged by compressionspring -18 to-maintain the lower finger 16 in contact with an end of theadjusting screw 13 and to slide along the longitudinal channel 14 as theadjusting screw 13 is longitudinally displaced.

The recess 21 in the jaw in the first described embodiment of theinvention is replaced by an expanded recess 32 in the second embodimentof theinvention. The recess 32 is sufficiently large to allow the jaw 4to pivot from its central locked position until its displacement islimited by stop 12, without contacting the marker 31. However, becausethe edge35 of the indicator 31 is a circular section concentric with theaxis of rotation of the jaw 4, the position of the edge 35 relative tothe window 20 does not change as the jaw 4 pivots. When a lateral force,greater than the break away force to which the binding is set, isapplied between the binding and the ski, the jaw 4 pivots to release theski boot in the same manner as in the first described embodiment of theinvention. The marker 31 indicates the break away force to which thebinding is set independently of a position of the jaw 4.

A variation of the second embodiment of the invention illustrated inFIG. 4 includes a marker 31 wherein the circular edge 35 is replaced bya straight edge (not shown) perpendicular to a lateral edge of thewindow 20 along which the indicia are disposed. In this variation, theindicator correctly indicates the break away force to which the bindingis set only when the jaw 4 is in the central locked position. When thejaw 4 is pivoted away from the central locked position, the straightedge of the indicator will not maintain the same relative position tothe edge of the window 20 and will give a different setting indicationthan when the jaw 4 is set to the central locked position. In anothervariation of the second embodiment of the ski binding, the circular edge35 of the indicator 31 is replaced by a straight edge inclined withrespect to the edge of the window 20 along which the graduations aredisposed in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 2. In this variationof the second embodiment of the ski binding also, the correct break awayforce setting of the binding is indicated only when the jaw 4 is in itscentral locked position.

A third embodiment of the ski binding is shown in FIG. 5. In order tosimplify description of the third embodiment, corresponding parts of thefirst and third embodiments of the present invention are identified bythe same reference numerals. The base comprises a lower base element 36and an upper base element 37. The lower base element 36 has a recess forreceiving a shaft 38 integral with the jaw 4, about which the jaw 4pivots, after the upper base part 37 overlies a portion of the jaw 4.The jaw 4 is provided with a cylindrical longitudinally disposed bore 39for receiving a cam 40,

a compression spring 10 and an adjusting screw 13. An I The jaw 4 isprovided with a longitudinal groove or channel 14' for receivingasliding element 15 which has a lower finger l6 and an upper finger 17.An opening 11 between the longitudinal channel 14 and the cylindricalbore 39 receives the" lower finger 16 of the sliding element 15. Thecompression spring 18 urges the sliding element 15 in a direction sothat the lower finger 17 of the sliding element 15 remains in contactwith the adjusting screw '13. A face of the upper base portion 37adjacent the holding jaw 4 is provided with a recess 21 into which theupper finger 17 of the sliding element 15 extends. An indicator 22having a groove 23 is disposed in the recess 21 overlying the slidingelement 15 so that the upper finger 17 0f the sliding element 15 engagesthe groove 23. The geometry of the upper finger l7 and the groove 23 areidentical to the corresponding elements of the first embodiment of theski binding illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and described hereinabove.

The operation of the embodiment of the ski binding illustrated in FIG. 5differs from the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 in that" when theholding jaw 4 pivots from the central locked position, the marker 22remains stationary within the recess 21, while the upper finger 17 ofthe sliding element 15 rotates about the pivotal axis of the jaw 4 asthe jaw 4 pivots away from the central locked position. It should benoted that the marker 31 of the second embodiment of the invention shownin FIG. 4 and the variations of the marker 31 described hereinabove maybe applied to the third embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5.

A fourth embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 6, comprises anadjusting mechanism which can be incorporated in any of the embodimentsof the invention described hereinabove. This adjusting mechanismamplifies the displacement of the adjusting screw 13 to facilitatereading changes in the break away force setting. In order to simplifydescription of the fourth embodiment, corresponding parts of the first,and fourth embodiments of the present invention are identified by thesame reference numerals.

A shown in FIG. 6, a fourth embodiment of the invention comprises anadjusting screw 13 having a cam 40 disposed at one end thereof andrigidly connected to the adjusting screw 13. Adjusting screw 13 isthreaded with threads having such a large pitch that one turn of theadjusting screw 13 displaces it over its entire range of adjustment. Cam40 is provided with a face inclined with respect to a longitudinal axisof the adjustment screw 13, and which bears against compression spring10. Lower finger 16 of the sliding element 15 is held against theinclined face of cam 40 by compression spring 18, and is displaced asthe adjusting screw 13 is adjusted. The adjustment screw 13 is disposedso that when the compression spring 10 is maximally compressed, the cam40 displaces the sliding element 15 a maximum distance. The otherelements of this embodiment of the ski binding are identical to thoseshown in the first embodiment and have corresponding reference numerals.The operation of this embodiment, however, differs from that of thefirst embodiment in that the displacement of the indicator 22 is notequal to the displacement of the screw 13, but is greater than andproportional to the displacement of the screw 13.

It should be noted that all of the embodiments of the ski bindingdescribed herein were rigidly attached to the ski at the base thereof.However, the base of the binding could have been pivotally attached tothe ski without going beyond the scope of the present invention.

The ski binding of the present invention can be used for both frontstops" and for heel stops, that is, it is well suited for securing a toeor a heel of a ski boot to a ski.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. A ski binding forholding a ski boot to a ski, comprising;

a base attachable to a ski; a-jaw mounted on said base for pivotalmovement about a pivot axis for normally engaging a ski boot, a portionof said jaw overlying said base, releasable locking means forselectively (A) preventing said jaw from pivoting to secure the ski bootto the ski and (B) releasing said jaw to pivot to release the ski bootif a lateral force greater than a predetermined force is applied betweenthe ski boot and the ski, said releasable locking means having adjustingmeans for manually setting said predetermined lateral force at whichsaid jaw releases said ski boot; said base having a channel disposed ina longitudinal direction thereof in a surface of said base adjacent saidportion of said jaw overlying said base, said jaw having a recessdisposed in a surface of said portion of said jaw overlying said baseand adjacent to said base; and

indicator means for indicating said predetermined lateral force,comprising, means on said jaw defining a window in said jaw, a sliderdisposed in said channel, a spring biasing said slider in said channel,and a marker disposed in said recess overlying said slider and oppositesaid window, said marker being mounted for slidable displacement in andlongitudinally of said recess, and having an arcuate groove concentricwith said pivotal axis and disposed in a surface of said marker adjacentsaid slider, and said slider having (1) a finger narrower than saidarcuate groove and engaging said arcuate groove to limit thelongitudinal slidable displacement of said marker and to allow saidmarker to copivot with said jaw, and (2) means cooperating with saidadjusting means to displace said marker in said recess in response tosetting said predetermined lateral force.

1. A ski binding for holding a ski boot to a ski, comprising; a baseattachable to a ski; a jaw mounted on said base for pivotal movementabout a pivot axis for normally engaging a ski boot, a portion of saidjaw overlying said base; releasable locking means for selectively (A)preventing said jaw from pivoting to secure the ski boot to the ski and(B) releasing said jaw to pivot to release the ski boot if a lateralforce greater than a predetermined force is applied between the ski bootand the ski, said releasable locking means having adjusting means formanually setting said predetermined lateral force at which said jawreleases said ski boot; said base having a channel disposed in alongitudinal direction thereof in a surface of said base adjacent saidportion of said jaw overlying said base, said jaw having a recessdisposed in a surface of said portion of said jaw overlying said baseand adjacent to said base; and indicator means for indicating saidpredetermined lateral force, comprising, means on said jaw defining awindow in said jaw, a slider disposed in said channel, a spring biasingsaid slider in said channel, and a marker disposed in said recessoverlying said slider and opposite said window, said marker beingmounted for slidable displacement in and longitudinally of said recess,and having an arcuate groove concentric with said pivotal axis anddisposed in a surface of said marker adjacent said slider, and saidslider having (1) a finger narrower than said arcuate groove andengaging said arcuate groove to limit the longitudinal slidablEdisplacement of said marker and to allow said marker to copivot withsaid jaw, and (2) means cooperating with said adjusting means todisplace said marker in said recess in response to setting saidpredetermined lateral force.